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Wednesday, May 22, 2013

Which Group is More Traditionally Rabbinic: Inclusionist MJ or Exclusionist MJ (e.g. UMJC)?

The term Halachic Judaism refers to Orthodox Judaism. I know you hear groups like MJRC say that they are a Halachic Judiasm. But the truth is that Halachic Judaism has come to be known as a system of Judaism that considers Rabbinic norms to be binding--and that only applies to non-Messianic Orthodox in my opinion.

So it's really a bad term, halachic Judaism, because it's confusing. The real issue is how much authority each sect of Judaism attributes to Rabbinic halachah.

And a more relevant question for Messianics is: which Messianic sect is more traditionally Rabbinic, Inclusionist MJ (a.k.a. One-Law) or Exclusionist MJ (e.g. UMJC)?

I didn't say halacha was a bad term. Halachic Judaism is a term that is ambiguous: it can either refer to (1) the view that Rabbinic norms (as expressed in Talmud and Codes) are binding or (2) the liberal Judaism view that Rabbinic norms are obsolete in the modern world.

I don't like the fact that "halachic Judaism" can be used to refer to two completely different things. This inevitably leads to organizations labeling themselves as "halachic" which then makes them sound as though they hold to Rabbinic norms (when in reality they do no such thing).

Both groups are extensions of Evangelicalism (that is they share its core doctrines, practices and education of its leaders) and only distantly mimic Judaism. However, it's laughable and oxymoronic to talk about the various Gentile led and populated One-Law groups (some of which are expressly if hypocritically anti-rabbinic) are being somehow more "traditionally rabbinic" than UMJC/MJAA groups led by Jews (or, in some cases, non-halachic descendants of Jews). Yes, without Jews, there's no Judaism.